Heating unit



Oct. 28, 1941.

P. W. GREEN l HEATING UNIT Filed lay 16. 193,9

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'ATTORNEY' Patented Oct. 28, 1941 HEATING UNIT Paul W. Green, Mansfield, Ohioassignor to Westinghouse Electric & Manufacturing Company, East Pittsburgh, Pa., a corporation of Pennsylvania Appiicanon May' 16, 193s, serial No. 273,860

(ci. 21e- 37) 4 Claims.

My invention relates to heating units, and more particularly, to a range surface unit, or the like, having a removable supporting pan structure. This application is an improvement over W. J. Russells copending application Serial No. 264,775,v filed March 29, 1939, which has been assigned to the assignee of this application, and is related to my copending application Serial No. 273,859, iiled May 16, 1939. v l

An object of my invention is to provide a heating unit having a heating element, and a removable pan structure which is adapted to support the unit substantially in the plane of a supporting platform when such unit is in its rnormal opremovable pan structure which has a solid functionally integral flange member about the top portion thereof.

elevating supporting structure A further object of my invention is to provide supporting member and a bottom portion functionally integral therewith.

A still further object of my invention is to provide a simple, rugged, dependable, inexpensive supporting pan structure for a heating unit which includes a functionally integral ring-like supportingl member, and a plurality of bottom portions with at least one bottom portion being removable from the ring-like member.

Other objects of my invention, will either be pointed out specifically in the course of the following description of a device embodying my invention, or will be apparent from such description.

In the accompanying drawings:

Figure 1 is a sectional view of a heating unit embodying vmy invention resting upon a supporting platform in its, normaloperating position taken along line I-I of Fig. 2;

- Fig. 2 is a sectional view` taken along the line II--II of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken along the line III--III of Fig.vk 2 with the supporting arms being shown in dotted outline; r

Fig. 4 isa fragmentary sectional view'similar to 55 refractory insulating bushings 28. Suitable ter- Fig. 3 illustrating a inodied hinging arrangement;

Fig. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary view taken along the line V--V of Fig. 3 illustrating a portion of the device embodying my invention; and,

Fig. 6 is a perspective view ci -the heating unit shown in Fig. 1 in its elevated position with the heating element and pan structure thereof retained above the range platform and with the supporting pan structure partially removed from the heating element.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, in which like reference characters indicate like parts in the several figures, I show a heating unit I0 including a heating element I2, a supporting pan structure I4 adapted to support the unit I0 on .a range platform, hotplate surface, or the like, I6 during the normal operation of such unit, and an I8 adapted to support the unit I0 in an elevated position above the platform when it is desired to clean such unit.

The heating element I2, in this instance, comprises an open grid formed of two sheathed members arranged in a spiral, in a well known manner. The sheathed members each comprise a resistor 20 embedded Within a suitable insulating material 22 and surrounded by a metal sheath 24 in awell known manner. The insulating material 22 is preferably magnesium oxide or the like and may be positioned within the metallic sheath or envelope 24 in a powdered form. 'I'he metallic sheath is formed of any suitable material which will permit the heating element I2 to operate satisfactorily at a. high temperature corresponding to red heat.

The sheath members are, in this instance, formed into two separate substantially concentric spirals and may be of either similar or varying wattages. The substantially concentric spirals are mounted in and attached to suitable radially extending transversely grooved supporting arms 26 in a well known manner. These arms 26 are adapted to support the heating element I2 within the pan structure I4 in a manner as hereinafter described.

n is to be understood that the heating' ele-- ment I2 described herein and illustrated in ythe accompanying drawings, is used primarily for illustrative purposes, and that other suitable heating elements may bev used in lieu thereof.

The ends ofthe tubular sheathed members extend downwardly from the main plane of the heating element l2 and terminate within suitable minals (not shown) are locatdd at the lower ends of the sheathed members within the bushings 28 to aiford means for connecting the heating element I2 to a supply circuit (not shown). The bushings 28 are attached to a terminal block 38, which, in this instance, comprises an elongated inverted channel-like member having outwardly and downwardly sloping sides 32. The channel member is formed from any suitable metallic material and has formed therein a plurality of apertures (not shown) along the upper surface thereof for permitting the passage and retention of the bushings 28.

A terminal shield 34, preferably of metallic material, is positioned intermediate the heating element I2 and the terminal block 30 and extends substantially diametrically across the heating unit I8. The terminal shield 34, in this instance, is substantially an elongated inverted channel having outwardly and downwardly sloping sides 36 and a plurality of apertures 38 located within the surface of the depending ends of such members, Y

and to retain the members in position as a functionally integral heating element.

Depending end portions 42 are, in this instance, located at either end of the terminal shield 34 to aiord means for rigidly attaching Vthe ter- Y mmai bleek an thereto. However, it is to be understood that the terminal shield 34 and terminal block 30 may be rigidly attached together or to the heating element I2 in any other desired manner.

It is, therefore, obvious that the heating element I2, terminal shield 34 and terminal block 30 being rigidly attached together, will move as a functionally integral unitary structure substantially as hereinafter described.

The sloping sides 36 o'f the terminal shield 34 direct any spillage or sloppage which might pass through the open heating element I2 outwardly away from the lower or terminal ends of the heating element I2. This structure thus adequately protects the terminals and insulating bushings 28 fromany extraneous matter which might pass down through the unit and along the depending ends of thesheathed members thereof.

The pan structure I4, in this instance, comprises a ring-like supporting member 44 and at least two half dish-shaped bottom portions 48 and 48, which cooperate to forman open panlike structure or vessel having a depressed Yceri-v tral portion with a substantially horizontally disposed bottom. 'I'he ring-like flange member 44 includes a depending sleeve portion 43 and an overhanging lip 52 which is located about the upper periphery thereof to afford means for supporting the pan structure I4 within the aperture I1 in the range platform I8, as hereinafter described. a

One of the bottom portions, say 48, is rigidly attached to the ring-like member 44 and is, in this instance, formed separate therefrom and spot-welded thereto -to form a functionally integral structure therewith. However, it is to be understood that.' if desired, such bottom portion may be formed integral therewith. The ringlike member 44 and the functionally integral bot- 75 tom portion 46 thus form a structure, having a cylindrical ring-like top and a substantially half bottom.

The second bottom portion 48 is formed separate from the ring-like member 44. However, such bottom portion is movably or removably attached to the ring-like member. The second bottom portion 48 is, in this instance, hinged to the member 44 by means of the hinge structure 45 and, in this instance, rotates about such hinge structure in a plane substantially parallel to the first bottom portion 48. Accordingly, it follows that when the movable bottom portion 48 is vlocated beneath and within the confines of the ring-like member 44, the pan structure rI4 has a substantially uniform bottom covering the lower portion thereof.

The movable half dish-shaped bottom portion 48 is retained in its engaged position with respect to the ring-like flange member 44 by means of a suitablelatching device 8B. Accordingly, it follows that with the movable pan portion movably attached to the ring-like member at one end by means of the hinge structure 45 and latched to the ringlike member at the other end by means of the latching device 56, the supporting pan structure I4 comprises a functionally integral structure having a portion of the bottom movable with respect to the ring-like member.

Suitable inwardly extending wedge-like keying members 86 are rigidly attached to or formed within the side portions fthe movable bottom portion 48. The keys 68 are adapted to cooperate v with the central portion 54 of the ring-like member 44 by passing through suitable cooperating slots 68 within the depending sleeve portion 43 thereof. 'I'he keying members 86 engage the slots 88 Within the sleeve portion as the movable bottom portion 48 is rotated from its 'open position to its closed or engaged position. This cooperation of the key-like member 8S within the slots 88 as the movable portion 48 is moved into its cooperative engagement with the ring-like member I4, prevents the movable bottom portion 48 from being moved vertically with respect to the ring-like member I4. The cooperation of the keys 66 with notches 68 and latching means 58 thus causes the movable portion 48 to be bound tightly against the depending sleeve portion 43 of the ring-like member 44 to insure a 'unetionally integral pan structure I4. notched ends 82 of the radially supporting arms 25 cooperate with the lugs 60 in the bottom portions 48 and 48 to insure the continued cooperation of the pan structure during the normal operation of the unit, as hereinafter described.V

An elongated gap 58 (see Figs. 2, 3 'and 6) is located between the adjacent bottom portions 48 and 48 when such portions are cooperatively engaged with the ring-like member., This gap permits the free passage of the depending ends of the heating element I2 through the pan structure I4, and permits the pan structure I'4 to be lov cated about the heating element I2 ywithout causing any binding action therebetween.

Suitable supporting lugs 88 are either stamped within or rigidly attached to the sides of the half dish-shaped bottom portions 48 and 48 for retaining the heating element I2 when the heating unit I8 is in its operative position upon the supporting platform I8. The lugs 88 extend within the depressed central portion of the pan structure I4 by passing through notches 8| within the depending sleeve portion 48 of the ringlike member 44. The luss 88 are thus adapted However, tapered to support the heating element I2 through the cooperation of kthe radially extending arms 28 which rest thereon when the unit is in its normal operating position.

A tapered notch 82 is located on the lower surface of the ends of the radlally extending' supporting arms 28. These notched ends 82 are adapted to extend downwardly within lugs 88 in the pan structure I4 when the element I2 is retained by the pan structure I4 in its normal operating position, to prevent the outward movement of the movable bottom portion 48. The radially extending arms 28 thus, through the cooperation of the lugs 88 and Lnotched portion 82, lock the supporting' pan portions 48 and 48 together and prohibit any relative horizontal movement between the heating element I2 and the pan structure I4.

Suitable apertures 84, arcuate in shape, in this instance, are locatedwithin the bottom portions 48 and 48'and a portion of the bottoms is bent downwardly to provide louvers to permit the free a portion is bodily displaced from beneath the ringpassage of any extraneous matter which may y pass beneaththe heating element I2. The bottom portions 48 and 48 are inclined or tapered towards the apertures 84 to readily guide such extraneous matter towards the apertures.v The bottom portions 48 and 48, in cooperation with the terminal shield 84, thus prevent any of the sloppage or extraneous matter passing beneath the heating element I2 from coming in contact with the terminal ends of the tubular heating members When assembling'the surface unit Ill embodying my invention, the heating element I2, terminal block 30, terminal shield 84 and the elevating structure I8 are united as a functionally integral structure as hereinabove described. The pan structure I4 is then located about the heating element I2 with the bottoms of the half dishshaped bottom portions 48- and 48 located intermediate the element I2 and terminal shield 34.

'I'he unit I0 is then located within the aperture I 1 in the platform I8, whereupon the over-hanging lip 52 of ring-like member 44 rests upon the ledge I8 adjacent the aperture. The radially extending arms 28 then rest upon the lugs 80 and retain the element I2 slightly above the surface of the platform I8. notched ends 82 of the arms 28 cooperate with the lugs 60 to retain the unit I0 as a functionally integral structure.

When it is desired to. clean the unit I0 embodying my invention, when it is Apositioned upon the platform I6 in its normal operating position, an operator merely grasps the heating element I2 andlifts the unit upwardly through the aperture I1. The unit is lifted upwardly beyond the platform I8 until the elevating supporting structures I8 partially pass through a notch 2| in ledge I8 and are adapted to cooperate with such ledge I9. The unit is then`slightly rotated, permitting the elevating supporting structure I8 to support the unit in an elevated position above the platform I8 (see Fig. 6), as is more fully described in the copending W. J. Russell application referred to hereinabove. However, it is to be understood that the unit may be retained in In addition, the tapered like member 44 (see Fig. 6). The supporting pan structure I4 may then be slightly inclined with respect to the plane of the heatingelement I2 and moved along the plane of such heating eley ment in a direction away from thenormal position occupied by the movable bottom portion 48.

A portion of the ring-like ilange member 44 will thus pass above the heating element I2, permitting the pan structure I4 to be easily removed from such heating element. The pan structure I4 may then be removed to a suitable dishpan and thoroughly cleaned. Likewise, Ywhile the heating unit I0 is in an elevated position and with the pan structure I4 removed therefrom, the operator may thoroughly clean the heating element I2 and terminal shield 84'. V

After thoroughly cleaning the unit I0, the pan structure I4 may be easily and readily positioned about the heating element I2 by passing the open portion of the ring-like member 44, or that portion from which the movable pan portion 48 has been removed, over the heating elernent and low-` ering such member in place about such element. With the ring-like member 44 in place about the heating element I2, the movable bottom portion 48 may then be rotated about the hinge lstructure 48 so as to be located beneath-the heating element I2. The movable bottom portion 48 then cooperates with the ring-like member 44 and bottom portion 48 and is retained in such cooperation by means of the latching member 58 and keying members 85, as hereinabove described. The unit I0 may then be returned to its normal operating position upon the range platform, whereupon the overhanging lip portion 52 ofthe flange-like member `44 will retain the unit I0 in an elevated position, in any manner, as so 'dismoves or rotates the movable bottom portion 48 about the hinge structure 45 so that such bottom form.

itsnormal operating position upon such plat- The radially extending arms 25 then cooperate with the lugs element and to bind the unit into a functionally v integral structure.

If it be desired, a movable bottom portion 48', similar to bottom 'portion 48, maybe removably attached to the ring-like ange memelongated aperture 12 in the depending sleeve portion 43 of ring-like member 44 and cooperatively functions as a able bottom portion. The removable pin 18 acts as a fulcruming member and permits the bottom portion 48' to be freely removed from the; member 44. When the pin 10 is located within aperture 12, the bottom portion may rotate thereabout, permitting the movable bottom portion 48 to be positioned in cooperative engagement with the ring-like member 44 and bottom portion 46 in a manner, as hereinbefore described. The operation of the pan structure I4 having a removable bottom portion 48' instead of the movable bottom portion 48, as hereinabove described, would be substantially'as hereinabove described except that the movable bottom portion 48 would be entirely removable from the ring-like flange member 44, rather than being hinged and movable with respect thereto.

It is, therefore, obviousthat the heating unit embodying my invention provides a functionally integral ring-like supporting pan structure having a plurality of bottom portions with at least one of said portions being either movable with 68 to support theheating A hinging means for.the mov- Y.

respect 'to or removable from the ring-like structure whereby the pan structure may bey parting from the spirit and scope thereof, and

I desire, therefore, that only such limitations shall beplaced thereon as are imposed by the prior art and the appended claims.

I claim as my invention:

1. In an electrically-heated unit for assemly to a range platform, the combination of a heating element disposed in a substantially horizontal plane adjacent the plane of the platform during normal use and movable to an elevated position for cleaning, said heating element including a depending terminal structure movable with the element, and a pan structure disposed in part beneath the element and including an outwardly-extending flange encompassing lthe element and normally resting upon the platform, a segmental bottom wall fixed to a portion of the ange and extending beneath a portion of the element and on one side of the 'terminal structure, a second segmental bottom wall extending beneath the element on the opposite side of the terminal structure and movable with respect to the flange, said second' segmental bottom Wall defining, with the ilrst-mentioned segmental bottom wall, a heat-reflecting bottom portionof the pan structure, and hingeA means connecting the segmental bottom walls at one side thereof beneath the flange and providing lfor separation of the bottom walls from the terminal structure when the element has ing element disposed in a substantially hori-I zontal plane adjacent the plane of the platform' during normal use and movable 'to an elevated position for cleaning, said heating element including a depending terminal portion movable with the element,`and a pan structure disposed in part beneath the element -fandz includingz a' flange encompassing the element and resting I upon the platform. a sleeve depending from said ange and having an inwardly-extending projection formed on one portion thereof and opening formed in aisecond portion thereof, a`

segmental bottom wail extending beneathv the element on one sid of said terminal structure and to the portion of the sleeve contain'- ing said projection, a movable segmental boi;-

tom portion including a bottom wall extending beneath the element and said sleeve on a second side of the terminal structure'and an upwardlyl0 through said opening in the sleeve. said iirst and second-mentioned projections denning a support for the heating element, and a hinge connecting said sleeve and movable bottom portion and providing for movement of the mov- .able bottom portion outwardly from beneath the a plane adJacent the plane of the platform during normal use and movable to an elevated posi- .tion for cleaningl said heating element' including a'depending terminal structure movable with the element and extending diametrically of the element, and, a pan structure disposed in part beneath the element and including an annular flange encompassing the heating' element and normally resting upon the platform, a sleeve depending from said flange and having inwardlyextending projections circumferentially spaced on one portion thereof and spaced openings formed in a second portion thereof, a segmental bottom wall extending beneath the element on one side oi said terminal structure and having v its outer'periphery ilxed to the portion of the sleeve containing said projections, a movable segmental bottom member including a bottom wall extending beneath the element and said sleeve on a second side of the terminal structure 40 and lan upwardly4extending segmental side wall fixed to the movable bottom wall, said side wall being arranged contiguous the outer side oi the portion of said sleeve which includes said openings, said side wall having spaced 4projections formed .thereon which extend inwardly through the openings in the sleeve, said first and second-mentioned projections dening a support for the heating element, hinge means connecting said sleeve and said side wall for per- 5Q"mitting movement of the movable bottom member outwardly from beneath the heating element, and a latch for maintaining the movable bottom member in position adjacent one side .l of the terminal structure during normal use of the unit. l

PAUL W. GREEN. 

